Essential information on hunting in Namibia

The Namibian Trophy Hunting season opens on February 1 and closes on November 30 of each year. Clients should ensure that they are booked and will be hunting with a registered Namibian operator, as well as a registered Namibian hunting professional.

The three classifications of hunting professionals are:

Hunting guides

Master hunting guides

Professional hunters

Two specialist qualifications are:

Big Game Professional Hunters - registered Namibian professional hunter who has passed the Big Game examination;

Hunting professionals should comply with all the Ministry of Environment & Tourism's (MET's) trophy-hunting regulations.

Trophy hunting may be practised from half an hour before sunrise, until half an hour after sunset.

Trophy hunting may take place only on properties where permission has been granted by the landowner.

Properties where bow hunting is practised must be registered additionally with MET for bow hunting.

The following is required regarding permits for trophy hunting:

Permits must be issued prior to the hunt commencing;

A separate permit must be issued for each individual hunting client;

An extra, special permit is required for the large cats (leopard, cheetah, lion).

It contains an additional list of conditions;

A permit must be completed in full by the hunting client and the hunting professional (wounded or lost animals must also be indicated on the permit);

Permits are issued by the MET only;and

A maximum of two trophies per species may be harvested, per hunting client, per permit.

All trophy-hunting operators must be registered with the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB).

Hunting with dogs is not permitted.

Requirements for importing firearms

Refer to the Namibian Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) website for required minimum muzzle velocities for firearms for various game species. A maximum of one-hundred (100) rounds of ammunition may be imported per hunting rifle. Only ammunition for the specific caliber may be imported. It is legal to hunt with black powder rifles in Namibia. (Refer to this website for the black-powder hunting regulations.). It is illegal to transport black powder and percussion caps. These can be purchased in Namibia. Inquire with your trophy-hunting operator. It is legal to import bows for bow-hunting purposes. No import permit is required. (Refer to this website for the Bow Hunting requirements.).

Payment

A detailed Tax Invoice must be issued for every hunt;

Value-added tax (VAT) is currently 15% and must be paid on services and trophies that are not exported. by the hunting operator on behalf of the client. (The VAT on trophies to be exported by the operator if accompanied with a copy of the passport of the client, the completed hunting permit and a copy of the invoice for the hunt is zero %.);

Please enquire what means of payment is required by your operator;

VAT is applicable on wounded game not recovered.

Prohibited Practices

It is illegal to hunt for trophies:

at night and/or with an artificial light;

that do not qualify in terms of the minimum measurement requirements as specified by the MET, Namibian Quality Control. If trophies do not meet this requirement, they do not have to be paid for. Exceptions are trophies with abnormalities and age deformities, which are taken home by the client, (Refer to the NAPHA Medal Brochure for minimum measurements.); and

in contravention of the Fair Chase principals as stated in the NAPHA Code of Conduct.

The immediate export of trophies from Namibia is possible only with a veterinary certificate, an export permit from the MET and the import permit as required by the country of final destination.Prohibited firearms are

All handguns

All automatic firearms

All crossbows

Recommended NAPHA Guidelines

Book and hunt only with a NAPHA member and an operator who can prove that he is registered with the Namibian Tourism Board. Consult the annual Huntinamibia magazine or refer to this website for a completemembership list.It is highly recommended that you enter into a written and signed pre-hunt agreement/ contract mutually agreed upon with your trophy-hunting operator or agent.

It is recommended that you request to see your trophy-hunting permit prior to commencing your hunt. If no permit has been issued, your trophy export will be jeopardised. All trophies taken must be checked and signed by the hunting client and the hunting professional on the trophy-hunting permit on completion of the hunt. There is no limit to the number of firearms that may be imported into Namibia for trophy-hunting purposes -

NAPHA, however, recommends a maximum of two firearms per hunting client;

If travelling through South Africa, keep in mind that immigration control there clears a maximum of two firearms for import;

Any unconventional firearm to be imported for trophy-hunting purposes is to be applied for to the Inspector General before arrival;

It is suggested that you bring between sixty and eighty rounds of ammunition per hunting rifle.

Travelling with firearms to Namibia

Take out full insurance for all firearms before travelling anywhere in Africa. NAPHA recommends flying directly to Namibia from Europe into Hosea Kutako International Airport near Windhoek. This will minimise delays associated with firearm transport. Air Namibia offers a direct service.Recent regulations have made travelling with firearms a time-consuming process when entering South Africa. Make sure that you stay in transit with your luggage. It is suggested that you adhere to the following procedure to minimise problems when travelling with firearms:

All bags need to be adequately marked with nametags for identification;

Pack an unloaded rifle in a sturdy carry case;

Have a separate lockable container in which to store your ammunition separate from your rifle in your checked luggage;

At the check-in counter at the point of departure, insist that the agent check your firearm through to Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek. Your bag tag should read, for example: New York - Frankfurt - Windhoek OR Atlanta - Johannesburg - Windhoek. (This is sometimes not possible if the airlines that you are using do not have baggage agreements. Inquire about this before purchasing your ticket.);

Windhoek Airport's International baggage code is WDH; and

Physically check baggage tag to ensure that it has been correctly printed and attached. Inquire if a colourful 'in transit tag' is necessary when travelling through another country.

Should you have any reason to be dissatisfied while hunting in Namibia with a NAPHA member, please inform the NAPHA office, in writing, with the full details of your complaint at napha(at)mweb.com.na.

For any further information or current updates on hunting in Namibia please refer to this website.